The causes of penile cancer are not known, but certain risk factors can increase your chances of getting it:

HPV

Men who carry the human papilloma virus (HPV) which is the virus that causes genital warts, have an increased risk of developing penile cancer. Studies have found that almost 5 out of 10 men (47%) with penile cancer also have an HPV infection.

Age

Age is a risk factor for cancer of the penis. The condition most commonly occurs in men aged over 60. However men in their 30s and 40s can also be affected.

Smoking

Smoking is the most significant lifestyle factor associated with penile cancer. Chemicals found in cigarettes are excreted in urine which may then interact with secretions that can build up under the foreskin resulting in abnormal cell changes in the penis.

The presence of the foreskin

Penile cancer is virtually unknown in men who have been circumcised as a child. Circumcision in later life does not affect the risk of penile cancer.

Phimosis

This is the inability to pull back or retract the foreskin fully.

It can occur as a result of skin irritation or inflammation or affect some men from birth. It will reduce the ability of a man to clean the penis thoroughly or notice any abnormal changes and may lead to a build-up of substances that could later contribute to the development of penile cancer. Research suggests that men with phimosis are around 10 times more at risk of developing penile cancer.